Abura Kids International 

Recruiter, wife, friend, and mother; although these are the hats I currently wear, I also have an extensive professional background as a public relations executive, event planner, and distance education teacher.
 

Organized, diplomatic and empathetic; as a consummate communicator, the common thread amongst my roles is my ability to meet people where they are, in whatever capacity that may be. Never one to shy away from the hard conversations, I thrive in environments where I can make a difference by helping others define their goals, craft their vision, and navigate the waters to get there.

Abura Kids International aims to elevate the lives of our most precious commodity, our children. Be they near or far, yours or mine, all children have the capacity to be more. We see the gaps, the inequities, and the lack of hope. Education is the greatest tool that exists to help fill those gaps, balance the inequities, and bolster that hope.
 

I look forward to helping these children navigate their waters - not by building them a boat, but by helping them learn to build their own. 

My professional expertise encompasses e-commerce, branding, digital marketing, editorial, fashion, sewing, and natural health. An innovative and creative leader, I have over 25 years of experience building brands in the digital arena. As an intuitive director, networker and mentor, I enjoy leading and motivating teams and like-minded individuals for success. I bring to the table a unique and varied creative skill set to support and elevate everyday lives with a holistic approach.

Jacqueline, Salome, and I were raised by a mother who was a teacher herself in Ghana. She instilled in us, and the many additional children she took care of in Ghana and New York, the importance of  putting education first. Most importantly, try your best to do your best, despite life's challenges.

I truly believe, lead by Jacqueline's vision, Abura Kids is setting the stage for not only fostering a better future for the children of Suhum, Ghana but the entire community as a whole.

I am proud to be the Director of Development at Abura Kids International Inc. With a deep commitment to justice and equality, my career focus is addressing systemic issues through the lens of housing. I hold a degree in Sociology and Africana Studies from Davidson College, where I developed a strong foundation in understanding the impact of housing inequality.
 

I have successfully led numerous development initiatives, securing essential resources to support the housing inequalities faced by my clients. My strategic vision and innovative approach have significantly expanded the reach and impact of the organizations I have worked with.
 

At Abura Kids International Inc., I oversee donor relations, grant writing, and corporate partnerships, working tirelessly to ensure that more children in Ghana have access to quality early childhood education. My passion for community engagement and belief in collaborative, community-driven work drives my efforts to uplift and empower those I serve. I will use my dedication, integrity, and unwavering commitment to empower the children of Suhum, Ghana to gain access to a quality early childhood education.

I was born and raised in New York City. As an undergraduate, I attended Yale University, where I majored in Comparative Literature. After college I returned to New York, where I went to medical school at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. I completed my training there in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, then remained at Columbia on the faculty for the next 20 years. In 2018 I moved to Los Angeles; I currently work at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Throughout my career, I have taken care of patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds; I have made a point of being able to provide equal care to rich and poor. I have also spent much of my career teaching medical students and other physicians. My students are all adults – the youngest have already graduated from college, and most are in their late 20’s. I often think that if we are going to address inequalities in the world and provide better opportunities to the next generation, we have to start much, much younger than my students. I’m inspired by Jackie’s vision and excited to work alongside her as we carry out the organization’s mission and vision.

My mother, a retired teacher who worked with children of all backgrounds in New York City instilled in me the importance of education. Abura Kids International will offer hope to the children of Suhum, Ghana by giving them access to a quality early childhood education.

I have been retired for ten years after a long career as an administrator with various companies in the business world. I began my career as a secretary in an insurance company and spent the next several decades in the financial world where I acquired knowledge in a variety of fields. As assistant to a high-ranking official in that world, I earned my certification enabling me to sell and purchase stocks. Although I never executed that certification, it was essential for my assistant role enabling me to have a greater depth of understanding of day-to-day operations.  I attended many board meetings, and while not a board member, summarized the meetings and submitted those summaries to members.
During the last twenty years of my career, I worked the executive assistant to the president of a major crafting company, in a completely different arena, where my job included a variety of assignments. My past assignments were proven useful in many ways, including working with lawyers on the acquisition of another company and subsequently arranging for the buyout of that company’s employees’ stockholdings.

After retirement, I volunteered in primary schools as a teacher’s aide. One of the schools was in Newark, New Jersey, where I grew up. That was more rewarding than I could have imagined. Working with children in an underprivileged urban area gave me a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.  I am particularly aware of the impact education and caring have on children and am honored to help make that available to children from Ghana in any way I can by working with Abura Kids International.

Rev. Stephen Kwakye is an International Evangelist and full-time missionary to Africa, with special focus on Ghana. He is the founder and the President of Family Health And Education Foundation Intl. Inc. and also the founder and senior pastor of Living Faith Revival Center (LFRC), headquartered in Suhum, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Rev. Stephen Kwakye is married to Mrs. Lucy Kwakye. They have one son and 5 adopted children.

Bio to come

I have been an educator for the past 12 years. I have taught grades ranging from first grade to eighth grade. I look forward to joining this extraordinary mission and vision of Abura Kids International. I believe that all children deserve an education because their possibilities are endless. Children are the future and they deserve every opportunity to obtain a solid, well rounded education. This starts with a very strong early childhood educational foundation. My teaching philosophy stems from the fact that Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Life Skills are critical components that benefit children inside and outside the classroom.  Critical thinking, problem solving and feeling valued are all aspects to a healthy and productive life. As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Education is the key to eliminating gender inequality, to reducing poverty, to creating a sustainable planet, to preventing needless deaths and illness, and to fostering peace. I am happy to be part of Abura Kids International as we help shape the future of the children in Ghana.

I enjoy cooking, baking, painting, crafting and gardening just to name a few. I am very creative and love to give children the opportunity to discover their own uniqueness and gifts.